Find out how popular the last name Zeppa is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Zeppa.

Zeppa, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Zeppa surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zeppa in America

Zeppa is the 79075th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zeppa surname appeared 241 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Zeppa.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zeppa to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Zeppa

The surname Zeppa has its origins in Italy, specifically within the regions of Tuscany and Liguria. The time period of its emergence dates back to the late medieval era, around the 13th or 14th century. The name is likely derived from the Italian word "zeppa," meaning a wedge or shim, which might suggest an occupational origin related to carpentry or shoe-making, where wedges were commonly used.

The name Zeppa appears in historical records from the 15th century. One of the earliest mentions is in a manuscript from Florence, dated around 1420, where a record points to a Francesco Zeppa who was a local craftsman. This indicates the surname was in use among the artisan class of Italy, tying the name to skilled trades.

In the 16th century, Giovanni Zeppa, born in 1555 and died in 1622, was a notable figure in Pisa, where he held a position in the guild of woodworkers. His work contributed to several prominent buildings in the city, and his name appears in various civic documents from that period.

By the 17th century, the name had spread to other parts of Italy. Angelo Zeppa, born in 1621 in Genoa and deceased in 1683, was a merchant who traded extensively within the Mediterranean. His ventures included exporting goods like olive oil and wine, and his business records provide a substantial source of information about early modern trade practices.

In the 18th century, the name is associated with Luigi Zeppa, born in 1703 and died in 1778. He was a renowned violin maker in Cremona, a city famous for its stringed instrument craftsmanship. Violins bearing his name are considered valuable antiques today, highlighting his contribution to the arts.

The 19th century brought the name Zeppa into the academic world. Alessandro Zeppa, born in 1819 and passed in 1887, was a historian and professor at the University of Bologna. His works on the Renaissance period are still referenced in scholarly literature.

Throughout history, the surname Zeppa has thus maintained its presence in various regions of Italy, linked initially to manual trades and later expanding into commerce, the arts, and academia. Each individual's contributions have embedded the name in the historical fabric of Italian society, making it a notable surname through the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zeppa

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Zeppa.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Zeppa was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Zeppa has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Zeppa was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Zeppa, please contact us.

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